There have already been two sprints this season in the USA: but there are reasons why Las Vegas, unlike Miami and Austin, is not bidding for the sprint format
It is Formula 1’s show race, but fans on the streets of Las Vegas are not likely to see an additional sprint anytime soon. Although the other two US races in Miami and Austin were sprint weekends this year, the Vegas organizers are rather reluctant to adopt the format.
The main reason for this is the logistical difficulties in the gambling city: “I think a lot of people don’t understand the complexity of this race compared to other street circuits,” Emily Prazer, executive director of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, told Autosport.
“Around 46 times” the course is opened and closed at different points during the race weekend, a process that, according to Prazer, does not exist at any other Grand Prix: ‘The complexity of Vegas, even compared to Singapore: I was at the race in Singapore, talked to the promoter, and they said: ’We don’t understand how you can open and close the track the way you do’.”
“They keep the streets closed for seven days,” the managing director explains with regard to Singapore. ‘Can you imagine us and the local authorities keeping the streets closed for seven days? That would never happen here,’ says Prazer, who therefore interjects: ‘I think adding a sprint would also increase the nervousness about whether we can get the track ready quickly enough if something happens.’
For Prazer, one thing is therefore clear: “I think we are quite happy to leave the sprint to Austin and Miami because there is so much going on here anyway, we are well positioned.” In 2024, the Ferrari Challenge, in comparison to the inaugural event, also saw an increase in the supporting program: “We are adding supporting races and hope to expand this over the next few years,” said Prazer.
The 2023 Grand Prix itself featured 99 overtaking maneuvers, the most in a Formula 1 race since 2016. That’s why the managing director is convinced even without a sprint: “The race itself already feels like a sprint race,” believes Prazer: ‘So there wouldn’t be that much of a difference between the actual race and the sprint if we look at the performance we saw last year.’
